Stay ConnectedTwo women. Two generations. Each with a mic and lots to talk about.
Hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender dive into honest, funny, and practical conversations about bridging faith with today’s cultural realities. They ask the hard questions and unpack what it looks like to bring smart living to a modern world—without losing your mind (or your sense of humor).
Expect laughter, gentle truth-telling, and the kind of advice you’d actually text a friend about
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It’s amazing what women will do to feel beautiful. From crazy beauty tricks through time to what truly sets a woman apart, we have all gotten caught in the trap. There’s a multi-billion dollar industry thriving on our desire to be attractive. The products we “need” fill our drawers but are soon discarded for the next must-have to get just the right look. In this episode, Darlene and Julie will discuss hilarious beauty hacks from the past (and ones we still try today), then dive deeper into a woman’s real beauty. Often it is the outer beauty that is first noticed, and of course, we all want to feel attractive. But what is it that will really last? We think it’s self-respect, confidence, individuality, grit, and grace. Is it wrong to want it all? We’re not saying to stop your beauty regimen (we’re not quitting ours!), but we are encouraging you (and each other) to spend time discovering the beauty that lies on the inside, where it truly matters most. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Why Charcoal Is Now a Thing and 4 Beauty Products You’ll Love I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram while decompressing from a long day when I stumbled upon videos of women brushing their teeth with a black substance. Instantly, my thumb stopped swiping up and my eyebrows cinched together. “Weird,” I Read more 3 Big Do’s and Don’ts of Skin Care You Need to Start Now In the last six years of being a licensed Esthetician (which, just to clarify is not to be confused with a statistician or Obstetrician…yup, that’s happened), I have heard some pretty interesting skin care routine Read more 5 Truths About the Best Kind of Beauty I repeated the phrase to myself again and again. Think on things that are noble, pure, and true. Beautiful things I’d told myself as I tried and failed to will myself to think positively. Noble, pure, and true I Read more 5 Beauty Hacks for Annoying Girl Problems Women have more issues that Vogue, so I’ve heard. Not all issues are easy to fix, but some can be quite simple—like the five problems (and solutions) I’ve listed below. Enjoy! Read more How to Crush Comparison With a Compliment I love games. I come from a very competitive family, so winning has always been important to me. Just ask my husband, I sometimes get super bitter if he beats me in a game (okay, scratch that I always get
What’s your plan for your summer vacation? Are you looking for unusual, or exotic destinations, or ways to make whatever trip you’re planning a little less painful? This week we discuss them all. From crazy must-see vacation spots across America to Darlene and Julie getting a little carried away as they ponder where they'd want to go, ”if money were no object!” Whether you're planning a road trip, staycation or dream vacay with your people anytime soon, you'll love this lighthearted chat. Of course, we can’t leave you without throwing in some practical tips for packing and traveling with less stress while sharing a few funny travel stories of our own. This one feels like vacation already! Cheers to creating summer fun! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love When a Staycation is the Perfect Family Choice It’s easy to get discouraged by all the Facebook and Instagram posts of the incredible vacations all of my friends get to take…Italy, Alaska, NYC, some private island in the Caribbean. Well, I’m a single mom on a budget. Read more 10 Tips for Packing When You Need to Travel Light I have taken two extended European trips, one with a band that I managed and the second with my two daughters. In both trips we traversed the European landscape on the EuroRail (the amazing railway system that waits for Read more 10 Tips – How to Enjoy a Road Trip With Kids My husband’s family lives in Canada, so we are well acquainted with long road trips. With small children in tow, an estimated 18-hour trip can easily stretch into 26 hours on the Read more Simple Guidelines for Traveling With Kids and How to Enjoy It Let’s just get this out in the open: vacationing with children is a daunting affair to think about. There’s planning and packing and food and travel and lodging and food (because they always eat). Should you plan a lot Read more My Favorite Time-Saving Hack: a Wardrobe Capsule (For Comfort!) I like to look put together but I’m too busy with my kids and projects to take time to think about it. My goal in this capsule is cozy comfy, with pieces I will wake up and want to Read more Quote of the episode: "Life's short. Eat dessert first, work less and vacation MORE!!" Lea Mishell We mention some other travel tips for the working wo...
Each week we celebrate what we believe—women are strong, it’s demonstrated in who we are and all we do. But it seems in the current culture a woman’s strength is often considered synonymous with feminism. In the midst of the potentially confusing platforms we just have to explore this topic. What is a feminist today, anyway? Is there value in the movement, what have we learned from it and where do we go next? Has feminism lost the respect for and appreciation of the strength of a man? This week we are discussing what it means to be a strong woman and a feminist in today’s explosive climate. Darlene Brock (a beneficiary of the feminist movement of the 60's) and Julie Graham (admittedly on the oldish side of millennials) don't claim to be experts on this conversation, so they brought in a friend, Licensed Psychologist Dr. Christina Hansen. We consider what it means to be a feminist in 2018 and whether or not we here at This Grit and Grace Life fit the bill. Give it a listen, and let us know what you think! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Dr. Hansen mentioned the fight fair list, you can find it here! Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love The Truth in the Gender Pay Gap I’m not sure about you, but I’m getting fairly weary of the angry women. The ones who seem to have a multi-tiered platform they are fighting for. Amidst the placard-carrying, strident-marching, hat-wearing, mic-grabbing females is a long list of Read more Do You Have to Break the Glass Ceiling to Be Strong? “This isn’t what we fought so hard for when we finally broke the glass ceiling, is it?” I heard this question posed while watching television. In this scene, a successful female lawyer and her law firm peer were confounded Read more 5 Tips on Dealing With Sexual Harassment in the Workplace In my various careers, spanning more years than I will share, I have worked with men. In fact, I have worked with far more men than women and, for the most part, have thoroughly enjoyed it. The majority of Read more Why I Won’t Be Posting #metoo As the #metoo movement sweeps social media, I have had a lot to think through. I am a part of that statistic, and I cannot deny that there is part of posting “#metoo” that is intriguing. Could it be Read more True Beauty is Found in a Woman’s Strength The often unspoken definition of a woman’s beauty appears on the cover of every magazine in the grocery store checkout aisle.
Do you have a purpose in your life? Or avoid the subject because you feel that you don’t? Women who are living this #gritandgracelife can accomplish so many things, but we are often set back by fear or worry, or we compare ourselves to others. In this episode, Julie explores Darlene’s life journey. Sharing five life tips that she followed to get where she is now: having several successful careers, a rich multi-decade marriage, as well as launching two grown daughters into fulfilling lives of their own. If you’re at a crossroads, struggling with your next step, or seeking to discover a passion that is uniquely for you this episode will deliver. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Not Sure How to Answer the Question: “What’s Your Why?” I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I think about it. Years of traveling, working in network marketing, and even starting my own business…the same question always arose, “What’s your why?” I never knew what to say. Read more Does Finding Your Purpose Really Matter? If you’ve been at all tuned in to book trends in the last 15 years, you have heard of (if not read) The Purpose Driven Life. Having sold more than 60 million copies, it landed Read more A Woman’s Grit Is Her Biggest Asset for Success Have you ever been introduced to an idea that radically changed your life? Did this idea not only explain your past frustrations but offer direction for a better future? Read more How to Get Honest About Your Dreams and Thrive! What have you always wanted to do? What do you dream about doing that you dismiss, put off, or tell yourself that it can’t happen now or you just have to wait until the time is right? Everyone has Read more Quote of the episode: "Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable" Coco Chanel "I have found my ability to complete my many endeavors by just not giving up. It’s the determination to move forward in the midst of the most difficult challenges that has enabled me to weather many of life’s storms" Darlene Brock Once you're done with this episode, you'll want to go back and listen to How to Face the Impossible with Grit and Grace – 035. Be sure to follow us on social media! Facebook
Mommin’ ain’t easy, friends! The days can be long while the years are incredibly short. There may be days you feel like you’re not doing it “right” (really, who is?). Or that you’re the reason your kid(s) are going to be messed up (not true!). Just give us a few minutes to remind you that you’re not alone and you are without a doubt, doing it well. Darlene shares insight as a mom of two grown daughters while Julie, recently a single mom, confesses some of her mom guilt. We also take some time to talk about the annual celebration of Mother’s Day. You may love it or dread it; your family might be the one to make it challenging. However you approach this day, kick your feet up Mom, this one's for you. If you’re not a mom, share this one with someone who is, she likely needs the boost! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 8 Ways to Create the Perfect Spa (in Your Home!) Growing up my mother would host little spa nights for me and my friends (that and tea parties were definitely her forte!). It wasn’t until my honeymoon when I planned a day at a silent spa (yes, I said Read more A Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Every Kind of Mom Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and we’ve compiled a gift guide that will help you find something special for every kind of mom in your Read more Make Mom a Gift From the Heart (It’s Easy and Cheap!) Gifts made from the heart are always the gifts a mother cherishes the most. Paper crafts, cut-out cards, and hand-picked flowers are some of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts. Simple, easy and full of love. While these gifts may not Read more 8 Ideas For a Fun (and Cheap) Girls’ Night Out Girl time is a necessity. Whether you are married, dating, or single, spending time with your girlfriends is a must! Just like for men—spending time with their bros is a must. But, one thing that can be hard when planning Read more Encouragement and Hope for a Single Mom Single mom-hood, the hardest job ever but the most rewarding. The best way to give some insight on being a single mom is to be transparent and let you in on my journey. So with that being said, let me Read more Must Reads on Motherhood for a Grit and Grace Life We love sharing some of our favorit...
Have you noticed that sometimes women say one thing and mean another? At least, your co-hosts do! We’re decoding some pop-culture phrases (filling you in on where they came from) and poking fun at the way we can completely confuse the opposite gender with our “womenspeak.” As you may have noticed, our own Julie Graham has her well-used catch-phrases. So, in this episode, Darlene adds to the “what we say” conversation by asking her to share her top 5 personal mantras and how you can apply them to your grit and grace life! This one has lots of laughs, and a few vulnerable moments too! If you haven't yet listened to Julie share more from her childhood, be sure to go back and listen to 028: Can You Really Leave Your Past Behind You? – 028. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 5 Helpful Tips for Loving Your Body the Way It Is My body shaming started in fifth grade shortly after a classmate made up a “clever” little saying about my breasts. She recruited a group of boys who all chanted for days: “Rachel’s so flat a pancake would be jealous. Read more You Are 15 Minutes Away from a Better Day Anyone else out there overwhelmed? Or Exhausted? How are those new year’s resolutions going? Oh, you’re not 20 pounds lighter or speaking Read more Put on Your Big Girl Panties and Get to Work (On Yourself) I go through the same struggles as everybody else; personal battles of love, life, loss, and lessons… Heartbreaks and disappointments that the average female faces at least once or twice (or 122,039,482 times). During these difficult times, I realize Read more 10 Behaviors Found in the Inspired Woman You cannot mistake an inspired woman. Right away there is something enchanting about her. But what exactly is it? Why is it so hard to put your finger on what makes her so? Here’s the thing: many of us are Read more Quote of the episode: "This day has never been lived, so tap into your grit and grace and be bold and just be you." Julie Graham Be sure to follow us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest #gritandgracelife You'll also enjoy this episode:
Are you navigating the single scene? Do your emotions range from fear to embarrassment at the thought of trying online dating? Author of the book “Beyond the Swipe,” Kristin Fry joins Darlene (married for a million years, her words) and Julie (a newly single widow after her 15-year relationship) to discuss navigating the digital dating waters in an honorable way. In a warm, conversational style, Fry’s book tackles a broad range of topics from evaluating profiles to first dates to maintaining healthy peer friendships even while dating. In this episode, the three engage in enlightening, encouraging and entertaining girl talk about the single scene today. Since your co-hosts learned a lot about this subject, they are sure you will too. This one is a great episode to share with a single friend you know-it could help! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. You can follow Kristin by finding her on Facebook and Instagram. You can get her book, here! Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Stop Saying These Things to Your Single Friend, Now You know how there are those golden rules of what you do not, under any circumstances, ask a woman? Questions Read more How Breaking Up Made Me a Stronger Woman Once upon a time, I was in a five-year relationship. There were good times and bad times, but overall—it was just a lot of time. A lot of shared Read more How to Know if Your Boyfriend is a Charity Case What is a “fixer”? A fixer is someone who feels best when helping others. If they see someone who is less fortunate, their first inclination is to try to remedy the situation. They have a keen sense of the unfairness Read more My Story, Daring to Date After Divorce I was talking with one of my besties from high school while the kiddos played with their toys on the floor. We were just about to hang up the phone when she quickly interjected that she thinks that she Read more You'll also enjoy this episode: When to Leave an Unhealthy Relationship With Your Man (with Dr. Zoe Shaw) – 024 Quote of the episode: "If he doesn't bring out the best in you, he's not the best for you" Kristin Fry Be sure to follow us on social media!
Men—we work with them, date them, marry them but do we know how to get along with them? Part of being a strong woman is appreciating the prospect of having healthy relationships with the men in our life. But in today’s climate, it seems like that’s a challenge! When did men get such a bad rep’ anyway? Whether we’re talking friends, coworkers, neighbors, family or every other dude you do life with; we want to learn to have good connections with them. We respect and appreciate guys for who they are, and we love that our genders are different! In this episode, Darlene and Julie discuss the keys to developing meaningful relationships with all the men in your grit and grace life. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Why I Won’t Be Posting #metoo As the #metoo movement sweeps social media, I have had a lot to think through. I am a part of that statistic, and I cannot deny that there is part of posting “#metoo” that is intriguing. Could it be Read more How the 5 Love Languages Can Change Your Relationship After 30+ years of marriage, you think I would have figured out a long time ago what is the best way to interact with my husband. But apparently I’m stubborn and sometimes selfish and would much prefer to keep doing Read more Establishing Healthy Boundaries in the Grit and Grace Life Healthy personal boundaries are the key to healthy relationships. Without them, healthy relationships are impossible. Yes, you heard that right. Impossible. That is because boundaries provide a necessary and very important distinction between yourself and Read more Why It’s No Good to Keep Score in Your Marriage My husband has one big rule for our marriage. Babe, if you’re reading this, I know you’d say it’s not a rule—perhaps more of a guideline. But for me, it’s a Read more How to Know if Your Boyfriend is a Charity Case What is a “fixer”? A fixer is someone who feels best when helping others. If they see someone who is less fortunate, their first inclination is to try to remedy the situation. They have a keen sense of the unfairness Read more Quote of the episode:
“I could never achieve that” or “I can’t do it because of X, Y, and Z” or “This feels impossible” These are phrases we all have spoken to ourselves when faced with a challenge or offered an opportunity. Today you can begin to change your thinking and by doing so, make a difference. Are you considering building a business, a career change, does your marriage feel hopeless, have a wayward teen or an unexpected health concern? This episode explores the line between impossible and improbable. Darlene, (the queen of seeing life as an opportunity, not a challenge) walks us through combining your natural talent and desires to take one step toward your goals or dreams. Julie asks the questions you likely have, offering insights she gained when facing what many would consider an impossibly hard childhood. Be encouraged, as you walk this life with grit and grace. You will find that the dreams you have are possible and life challenges can be overcome! It may be improbable, but nothing is impossible. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 5 Tips on How to Make a Change the Right Way Are you facing a life obstacle? Career not going as planned? In need of financial help because your spending always outweighs your income? Are you stuck in a bad relationship that needs some work (mother, sibling, friend, boyfriend or husband)? Have circumstances Read more How to Get Honest About Your Dreams and Thrive! What have you always wanted to do? What do you dream about doing that you dismiss, put off, or tell yourself that it can’t happen now or you just have to wait until the time is right? Everyone has Read more Why It’s So Important to Have a Mentor and to Be One Too For 12 years (or more) we are taught. Being enrolled in school gives us structure and a guidebook to living. We are given this safe bubble of trial-and-error Read more What to Do if Plan A Looks like Plan F! You’ve finally landed your dream job, adopted that foster child you knew was meant to be yours, moved to the big city leaving the small town behind, or finally made your way into the college of your choice. Plan A Read more The Benefits of Optimism in the Grit and Grace Life – 025 Want to live longer? Research tells us that optimism holds the key, and it also says that our gender is the most optimistic. So, are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of
Working mom = a stellar juggling act, guilt every time a ball is dropped and the pressure from an audience who tells you how it should be done. Working moms, you’re not alone. Most mothers today work outside the home and all share the same challenges, disappointments and fears that strike without warning. But take heart! Darlene (who has walked this road and launched two adult daughters), and Julie, (who's in the thick of it with you) share encouragement, honest struggles and how they deal, all while laughing at the journey we call working motherhood. Know this: we think you're doing a kick-butt job, both at work and at home! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Once you're done with this episode, you'll want to go back and listen to To the Working Woman: A How-To Guide for the Workplace – 023. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 5 Quotes That Will Encourage You, Working (Super) Mom Working moms do it all—but it’s hard! The struggle to find work and life balance is real, but in the end, what really matters is Read more To the Mom Who Feels Guilty for Loving Her Work I have to start this off with a confession. I sat down to write this article four different times, but couldn’t put it all into words. None of it made sense. The words sounded so silly, confusing, insignificant. But, Read more How to Pack For a Quick Trip (When You Travel Often) The worst part about going out of town can often be packing. I will share a few of my favorite packing tips and then tell you how I create a foolproof capsule wardrobe for Read more 7 Time Management Hacks for a Successful Workday I had been a reporter fresh out of college for a year and I was supremely independent. I had beats to cover, and I spent my days bopping around town interviewing everyone from first-graders Read more Must Reads on Work and Money for a Grit and Grace Life Read more Can You Start a Career Later in Life? Absolutely. Depending on whom you ask, being a stay at home mom can be: fulfilling, exhausting, joyful, mundane, and so on and so forth. Often times, it’s a mixture of all of that wrapped into one—or...
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